Agenda item

Report by the Head of Place (attached).

Councillors Leaver and Ley declared a prejudicial interest and left the meeting during the consideration of this item.

Councillor Mackie resumed the meeting, acting as Chair.

The Chair advised that this Application had been called in by Councillor Ley, who had since requested to withdraw his consultation response which had been based on the description of the site which had now been clarified to his satisfaction.

The Committee considered a report by the Head of Place (circulated previously).

Councillor Ian Cowley (Bishops Nympton Parish Council), John Peard (applicant) and Amanda Sing (objector) addressed the Committee.

The Committee adjourned for the two minute silence at 11.00am.

The Committee re-commenced the meeting at 11.02am.

The Senior Corporate and Community Services Officer read statements from the following in support of the application: Natasha Rowley, Laura Wyatt, Keith Parsons, Roger Wildman and Jennifer Smith.

Councillor Worden addressed the Committee as adjoining Ward Member. He confirmed unanimous support from South Molton Town Council for approval for the application as a site for one family.

In response to questions from the Committee, the Solicitor (DH) advised that personal conditions were only appropriate where there were strong compassionate or personal grounds for doing so. Otherwise, the conditions should be applied to the site only.

In response to comments from the Committee, the Lead Planning Officer (JW) advised that:

·         A minor redraft to condition 4 could be made to restrict the use of the site and that it be amended to “The residential accommodation on the site at any one time shall be restricted to one mobile home and one touring caravan to be used as a single occupancy. The touring caravan shall not be occupied as a separate residential unit whilst on site. The caravans shall only be located in positions specifically allocated by approved drawing JL20 – BLOCKPROPOSED rev B, The site shall not be used at any time for the stationing of any other caravans that are occupied residentially by persons in transit.

·         Condition 6 could be amended to replace the wording “the mobile home and the static caravan” with “the mobile home and touring caravan”.

·         The applicant was looking to use the site as an all year base. When travelling they would be using the touring caravan.

·         Any restrictions to the number of days per year which the site could be occupied would be difficult to monitor. 

·         It was accepted that this was not an allocated site but as there was a shortfall of permanent permitted gypsy and traveller pitches there was an increased urgency to provide them.

·         This would be considered as an exceptional development site.

·         In response to questions, the Planning Officer (RB) outlined the paragraphs in the report in relation to the need for the site (page 30 onwards) to the Committee.

RESOLVED that (10 for and 1 abstained) that the application be APPROVED as recommended by the Head of Place subject to conditions 4 and 6 being amended as follows:

(a)       Condition 4 - “The residential accommodation on the site at any one time shall be restricted to one mobile home and one touring caravan to be used as a single occupancy. The touring caravan shall not be occupied as a separate residential unit whilst on site. The caravans shall only be located in positions specifically allocated by approved drawing JL20 – BLOCKPROPOSED rev B, The site shall not be used at any time for the stationing of any other caravans that are occupied residentially by persons in transit.

(b)       Condition 6 - be amended to replace the wording “the mobile home and the static caravan” with “the mobile home and touring caravan”.

RESOLVED that the meeting be adjourned for three minutes to allow opportunity for Councillors Leaver and Ley to return to the meeting.